Recycling

To help improve recycling at Sussex, we've signed up to the only paper cup recycling scheme in the UK, and we're aiming to cut 23 tonnes of paper towel waste at Sussex. If you're studying or working on campus, you can also check out our recycling map.

Recycling coffee cups

We have signed up to the only paper cup recycling scheme in the UK.

More than three billion paper cups are used each year in Britain. Most are coated inside with waterproof plastic film.

Recycling plants struggle to separate this from the cardboard and instead have to send the cups to landfill or incinerators.

We have provided 'Simply Cups' recycling bins for Sussex staff and students to dispose of their hot beverage cups at food outlets on campus including Eat Central, Arts Piazza and the Jubilee Café.

The discarded cups are sent to specialist fibre recovery facilities in the UK where the plastic film is removed and recycled, and the paper gets turned into reprocessed fibre. The fibre is then used for packaging or turned into functional new products such as decking or outdoor furniture.

SussexFood is also tackling cup waste by selling reusable Mugs for Life at their campus outlets.

If customers use a Mug for Life or their own cup to buy a hot drink at SussexFood outlets, they’re entitled to a 10p discount.